Shane Lowry was unable to match his opening round 69 at the Memorial tournament, but a level-par 72 sees the Offaly man well placed going into the weekend.
Ben Griffin, a winner last week at the Charles Schwab Challenge, and Nick Taylor share the lead on seven-under at the halfway point at Muirfield Village, with Lowry in a tie for fifth, four shots off the pacesetters in tricky playing conditions in Ohio.
The 2019 Open champion picked up a shot at the par-five fifth, but was level at the turn after finding trouble with his approach at the ninth.
After taking a scenic route to a bogey on Thursday at the 11th, Lowry picked up a shot at the par-five hole, finding the fairway from the tee and controlled iron play allowing an eight-foot putt birdie opportunity that he duly took.
That was immediately handed back after finding water from the tee at the par-three 12th requiring a tidy finish from 11 feet to prevent a double bogey.
The 38-year-old is the lone Irishman competing at the $20m signature event after Rory McIlroy chose to skip another PGA Tour event.
At the midway point, Lowry is one stroke adrift of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who carded a second successive 70 to lie in fourth spot on four-under.
Canada's Taylor joined Griffin in a share of the lead, picking up four birdies on a blemish free card to post 68. Overnight leader Griffin carded an even par 72 on Friday.
The pair sit two strokes clear of Akshay Bhatia in sole third on five-under, one shot clear of Scheffler.
Alongside Lowry in tied-fifth are Jordan Spieth and Sam Burns, the latter carding a superb 65 on Friday.
